John 6: Receiving Provision from God
- Rebecca Lynn Hardy
- Jun 24
- 15 min read
In John Chapter Six, the disciple whom Jesus loved, recounts the first major miracle in Jesus’ ministry. Passover is a feast that requires Israelites to travel to Jerusalem. As the feast neared, God’s people flooded into Jerusalem. The Lord had healed so many that 5000 men, plus women and children, followed Him to the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus asked His disciples where they could buy bread to feed the crowd, He received two answers:
Philip answered Him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:7-9 NIV)
Philip looked at it from a natural point of view: it would cost a lot of money to give each person a single bite of food. Andrew was with the Lord when He turned six 180 gallons of water into wine. He presented to the Lord all that He had on hand to see if Jesus could do anything with what was only enough food for one child.
And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 AMPC)
When there is a need, God can provide for us in ways that we cannot imagine. His supply is liberal and generous just as it was when Jesus supplied for the multitude:
When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples, “Gather up now the fragments (the broken pieces that are left over), so that nothing may be lost and wasted.”
So accordingly they gathered them up, and they filled twelve [small hand] baskets with fragments left over by those who had eaten from the five barley loaves. (John 6:12-13 AMPC)
Not only were thousands fed with a child’s lunch, but there were a dozen basketfuls left! This is how God can provide for our needs. We need to put all He gives us to good use.
Why Do We Receive Provision?
Do you want God to supply for your needs? Why would God give us provision? Putting what Paul said to the Christians in Philippians in context will help us understand why God will provide for His children. Here is what was said right before “God will supply…”
And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.
Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]. (Philippians 4:15-17 AMPC)
When we support God’s work, we are sowing seeds for God. In time, “fruit” will cause an increase and we will receive a harvest from what we have given to God. Many ministries have “partners” which simply means you have declared your devotion to give a certain amount on an ongoing basis because you believe in the work of that ministry. When we continue reading, we see a bit more about what type of giving receives a harvest:
But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights. And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:18-19 AMPC)
Paul was not a pastor of a church. He was not receiving tithes as God’s storehouse. But he was receiving offerings from people and churches for the work he was doing as an apostle. Evangelists, apostles, and prophets can receive offerings. As the Amplified Classic Version shows, these offerings create an “account” with God who will then supply generously for your needs since you have supplied for the needs of His work.
We see this principle in action when Jesus fed the multitudes. God instantly multiplied what was sown so that the ministry’s needs were met. There was fruit that overflowed into twelve baskets!
3 Steps to Receiving Provision From God
Have you “sown seeds” into ministries but still continually come up short each month? Do you support God but find your needs unmet? There are entire ministries whose teachings focus on receiving provision from God when what you need to know can be easily seen in this one chapter. Let’s look at how the multitude received provision from Jesus.
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. (John 6:10-11 ESV)
The steps to receive from God are clearly demonstrated here:
Go to Jesus.
previous scriptures
Do what Jesus says.
Verse 10
Be grateful for what you do have.
Verse 11
That's it. It sounds simple, but each step is on a narrow path. Following these steps takes a lot of effort!
Do you know God’s ways?
If not, then how can you know if you are doing what Jesus says to do?
Are you willing to spend time learning His ways?
Even when it doesn’t look like you have enough, do you remain grateful?
If you are learning God’s ways, doing your best to follow Jesus, and removing sin, why aren’t your needs being met? It may be a test. Earlier in the same chapter on provision in Philippians, Paul shows us the right attitude:
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [infuses inner strength into me; I am [self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Philippians 4:12-13 AMPC)
“Straitened circumstance” means living in poverty. Paul did not ALWAYS receive abundant provision from God. Sometimes he was hungry and he was without and in “want.” At these times, Paul looked to Jesus for strength.
Being poor or without doesn’t always mean there is something wrong. Sin and not walking in God’s ways may keep us from receiving provision from God, but other times it is a test to see if we will still praise God. It is an opportunity to draw close to the Lord and receive strength from Him.
Why Am I in Rocky Waters?
Are you trying to work Jesus says, but feel like everything is against you? Do you feel like you are in rocky waters? Even after the miracle with the food, the disciples felt the same way!
After supplying for the crowd, they declared that Jesus was a prophet and wanted to make Him king. Knowing that wasn’t God’s will, Jesus went off alone.
When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. (John 6:16-18 ESV)
The disciples left without Jesus. The wind came against them and they began to struggle. Have you meant well, but gone off in a direction ahead of the Lord? When we do that, it can seem like everything is coming against us. Trouble comes out of nowhere to hinder us.
Even though the disciples had been with Jesus and seen Him do many miracles, they still got in the boat without Him. And when trouble arose, they were hindered until they were reunited with Jesus. When trouble comes, look for the Lord. If you are walking ahead of Him, stay put until He shows up!
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. (John 6:19-21 ESV)
The sight of Jesus walking on water was something beyond the imagining of the disciples. They didn’t know who or what it was until Jesus identified Himself. Once He did, they gladly welcomed into the boat.
Look what happened next. They didn’t have to row anymore, they were immediately at their destination! Waiting on Jesus to catch up will get you to your destination so much faster than you could get there by yourself!
You may know the miraculous power of God. You may have seen Him do miracles. This doesn’t keep you from getting ahead of Him. It doesn’t mean you may not need to take some time to wait on Him.
Should we Seek Provision from God?
Do we need to declare, seek, and demand for provision? Does a lack of faith in provision keep us from receiving it? How should we seek provision? John’s account of what happened after Jesus provided bread gives us the answers!
John notes that the crowd saw the disciples leave without Jesus. When they failed to find Him, they went across the Sea of Galilee to where the disciples were.
When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal.” (John 6:25-27 ESV)
The people had received provision from God and they began seeking more provision. They were not seeking Jesus, but what He could give them. When we focus on something and seek after it, then it can be an idol to us. Idolatry isn’t just a statue we worship, it happens in our hearts:
Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: “Every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols [of self-will and unsubmissiveness] into his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity [idols of silver and gold] before his face, and yet comes to the prophet [to inquire of him], I the Lord will answer him, answer him according to the multitude of his idols, That I may lay hold of the house of Israel in the thoughts of their own mind and heart, because they are all estranged from Me through their idols.” (Ezekiel 14:4-5 AMPC)
If our focus is absorbed by what we want, that is “self-will” because we do not consider God knows what is best. We are placing our will above God and then we are guilty of idolatry. Even if you go to a prophet who is hearing from God, a true man of God will tell you what idols are blocking you from receiving from God. This will clear out your heart and mind allowing you to grow closer to God. The New Testament confirms the link between idolatry and our own desires:
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5 ESV)
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (1 Samuel 15:23 KJV)
To covet something is to look longingly at it, to desire it. When we long for something and it consumes our attention, that is idolatry. If we stubbornly look for anything, calling it “faith,” instead of looking to God and trusting in Him to bring us what we need, we are guilty of idolatry. This includes provision and healing! If you have focused on receiving from God, then you are guilty of idolatry.
After Jesus told the crowd that they could work for food that He would give them, food that would never spoil, Jesus told them how to receive it:
Jesus replied, “This is the work (service) that God asks of you: that you believe in the One Whom He has sent [that you cleave to, trust, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger].” (John 6:29 AMPC)
Every time you see the word “believe” in connection with Jesus, it means to cling to, trust in, rely on, and have faith in Jesus. This is what we need to be doing, not seeking miracles and provision. How did the crowd respond:
So they said to Him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? (John 6:30 ESV)
The Lord had just performed the biggest miracle seen since Moses and when He told them they needed to believe in Him, they demanded another miracle! If Jesus had given them what they asked for, He would have been seeking favor and glorifying Himself with man rather than listening to and obeying God. Instead of giving in to their demands, He spoke to them in metaphors to reveal the idol in their hearts.
Are Your Holiday Celebrations & Traditions an Idol?
Is there a tradition that is keeping you from receiving more from Jesus? Perhaps you have been told you can only read one version of the Bible. Anytime someone quotes from a different version, you reject what they are saying. If so, then you are as inflexible, as ridged, and as misguided as those who rejected Jesus.
Are there holidays you observe? Celebrating holidays that include items used in the worship of other gods indicates that you are in agreement with the worship of those gods.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial?
For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you…” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15,17 ESV)
Do you want more of God in your life? This is what He expects of us. We cannot participate in customs centered around other gods or pagan traditions. We must be separated from them. This is what God expects of us.
Are there traditions you follow? Even those in a church? Stubbornly clinging to traditions, even those loosely based on scripture, can be idolatry which we will see in the latter half of John 6.
The crowd revealed where their focus was while demanding a sign. The well-fed people brought up the manna Moses provided, indicating that they wanted Jesus to continue feeding them. They had referred to the manna as “bread from Heaven,” and Jesus began using bread as a metaphor. He claimed to be the true Bread from Heaven which brings life to the world. After the people asked for the bread, He says:
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. (John 6:35-36 ESV)
This is the beginning of a discussion that will lead to the rejection of Jesus by many, including the people He just fed.
So the Jews grumbled about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down from Heaven.”
They said, “Is not this Jesus, the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down from Heaven’?” (John 6:41-42 ESV)
As they grumbled, Jesus answered them with more metaphorical arguments that merely added fuel to the fire of their offense.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the Bread that comes down from Heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (John 6:47-52 ESV)
Israel had strict rules about what they could and couldn’t eat. What is acceptable has become known as “kosher.” Cannibalism was a definite “no-go” for God’s people. Jesus continues to poke at their traditional beliefs:
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. (John 6:53:56 ESV)
Even with the amazing miracles Jesus performed when He said something outrageously against their traditions, they rejected Him rather than try to understand what He was saying. Who would eat the flesh of a person and drink their blood? Instead of asking Jesus what He meant, they became offended and many abandoned Him, including those who considered themselves His disciples! The twelve chosen by God remained, but it doesn’t tell us how many more besides the twelve.
When we look at the metaphorical meaning, it is clear what Jesus was saying. When we take Communion, we accept the following:
We examine the life Jesus lived in the flesh.
He is God but He became a man on the Earth for us.
Consuming it means fully digesting what He accomplished by looking at His life and applying it to our lives.
We take and eat the bread which represents His flesh.
We accept the price Jesus paid when He shed His blood on the cross.
The shed blood allows for a new covenant.
It pays for our sins.
Drinking His blood is to consume fully and appreciate it.
We receive the price paid for our sins.
We are willing to become His bond servants.
When we fully consume the flesh and blood of Jesus we will continually walk with Him. This is what we receive when we take Communion. This is what we should do when we are saved when we accept Jesus as our Lord.
Throughout this chapter, we see that Israel made the mistake of looking for what Jesus could do for them, such as providing free food, instead of trusting and relying on Him. Jesus is our Healer. He is our Provider. But first He must be our Lord.
Do you want more of God’s Glory?
Do you want God to provide for you in abundance? Do you want God to move more powerfully in your life? Do you want Him to touch the people around you? Do you want to operate in the gifts of the Spirit so many can be healed and set free?
Perhaps you have heard that we go from glory to glory, gaining more from God over time. The first step is to know that Jesus is your Lord. The Word Lord means owner and master. Salvation is a free gift because we can not earn it. Jesus had to willingly give His life for us, even though He never did a single thing wrong. With the sacrifice and torture of the cross, He paid for our sins. We have been bought and paid for!
Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20 AMPC)
It is time for the Body of Christ to remember that they are His body. It is time for us to leave sin behind. our goal to remove as much sin as possible. Paul spoke of a veil hindering the understanding of God’s people because of their hardened hearts, which we know comes from continuing in sin. Then He showed us how to remove that veil and receive more of God’s glory:
But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).
And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 AMPC)
The freedom we receive when turning from sin is freedom from attacks of the enemy on our health, finances, and family. This is how we gain more of God’s power in our lives. We remove sin! By doing this we become more like Jesus and His Spirit will move stronger in our lives. Everything that comes from Him will increase. This is why Jesus came. This is why He died!
We have to be willing to walk with Jesus. He doesn’t walk in sin! Are you ready to go from GLORY TO GLORY? You must look at the Word, the Bible, you must do what it says! The Lord has created a place for you.
The Online Christian Church has free classes, free materials, and even free tutoring. All you need to go from Glory to Glory! There are mature Christians, elders, who will be there to pray with you as you learn and apply God’s ways to your life!
We have seen healing, breakthroughs in finances, freedom from emotional attacks, and so much more. But it takes dedication and diligence to go from glory to glory…Are you ready?
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